Egyptian VP ElBaradei resigns in protest of pro-Morsi crackdown

ElBaradei, seen here in 2012, announced his resignation on August 14, 2013 in a letter to the interim president on Wednesday. (AFP/File)

Egypt's interim vice president Mohamed ElBaradei resigned on Wednesday in protest of the violent crackdown against supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

In a resignation letter written to interim President Adly Mansour, ElBaradei said "the beneficiaries of what happened today are those who call for violence, terrorism and the most extreme groups", according to Reuters.

"As you know, I saw that there were peaceful ways to end this clash in society, there were proposed and acceptable solutions for beginnings that would take us to national consensus," he wrote, Reuters reported.

"It has become difficult for me to continue bearing responsibility for decisions that I do not agree with and whose consequences I fear. I cannot bear the responsibility for one drop of blood."